Supporting the 2007 Electoral Representation Commission
In this section...
- Statement of Intent Homepage 2007/08
- Minister's foreword
- Chief Executive's overview
- Statement of responsibility
- Strategic direction
- Introduction
- Our strategic context
- The outcomes we want for land management and land information
- Our key priorities 2006-2009
- Introduction
- High Country Policy
- Establishing the Geospatial Office
- Regulatory interventions review
- Supporting the 2007 Electoral Representation Commission
- Landonline 100% e-Lodgement programme and associated projects
- Hydrographic Data Infrastructure (HDI)
- Topographic 1:50,000 Map Series
- Overseas Investment Office database
- Risk management
- Focusing on our future capability
- Forecast financial statements
- Appendices
- Contact details
Why supporting the 2007 Electoral Representation Commission is a priority
The Representation Commission is responsible for periodically re-adjusting electoral district boundaries - both general and Māori - and the naming of electorates. LINZ has statutory functions and provides technical services to the Commission.
The Commission is convened by the Surveyor-General every five years, following the five-yearly population census and the electoral option given to New Zealand Māori. The Surveyor-General creates a first draft of the boundaries (called the provisional boundaries), which the Commission builds upon to produce proposed boundaries. The public is then consulted on these proposed boundaries before the Commission produces its final boundaries for the House of Representatives.
The boundaries must meet prescribed population quotas and the Commission is required to take into account existing electoral boundaries, communities of interest, communications and topographical features and, in the case of the Māori electorates, tribal affiliations.
LINZ, in close association with the Chief Electoral Office, is also responsible for providing technical support, which includes arranging for the provision of all mapping for official and public use. Once the boundaries have been finalised LINZ is also required to produce an updated index of all streets and places within each electoral district. This is produced from the information LINZ routinely maintains on advice from territorial authorities.
Contribution to shared outcomes
This activity supports the constitutional arrangements that enhance the quality of democracy and ensure the public can have confidence in the electoral process. LINZ's contribution to the Commission's functions is to determine map and electorate boundaries.
Activities
The Surveyor-General produces the provisional electoral boundaries and is a member of the Commission. LINZ will manage contracts for the production of maps for the electoral boundaries, and will also provide overall quality assurance to ensure the Commission's decisions are reflected correctly on the maps and plans.
Performance measures
The technical support and advice provided to the Representation Commission is to the satisfaction of the Chair of the Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer.
